March9, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC – Today Rep. Ike Skelton
(D-MO), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and
Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR), Chairman of the Oversight and
Investigations Subcommittee, commended President Obama for
signing a new executive order on signing statements.

“We commend President Obama for his position on
Presidential Signing Statements. He promised to
identify problematic legislation before it passes, use
signing statements sparingly, and to clearly lay out which
measures may be in question. As our Oversight and
Investigations subcommittee found last year, signing
statements that are used as part of a constructive dialogue
with the Congress and public can be useful. The President
clearly intends to work with Congress to ensure legislation
is enacted for the good of the nation.”

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the
House Armed Services Committee produced a report on the use
of Presidential Signing Statements during the 110th
Congress. That report can be found on the
committee’s
website.